Method and system for offline payment delegation using personalized multimedia mechanism

ABSTRACT

A system, method, and computer program product for providing personalized coordinated shopping among multiple participants in a network marketplace. Social group interactions are extended to shopping, to enhance the scope and efficiency of commerce. A shopping group comprising selected members of a social group includes an authorized purchaser and a number of shoppers who are not authorized to make purchases. A non-authorized purchaser selects desired items and sends a purchase approval request to the authorized purchaser, including a personalized video message describing and supporting the request. The personalized video message is sent to the authorized purchaser by communication means selected according to determined current availability, including via review of a social calendar. The authorized purchaser may approve, decline, or request further information from the requester, upon reviewing the purchase request. The authorized purchaser may modify the requested transaction, including the item actually purchased, the seller, and its shipping data.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to messaging between various users of anetwork-based publication system and marketplace.

BACKGROUND

As the use of network-based publication systems and marketplaces such asonline commerce services or auction services expands, and the volume ofitem listings in such applications increases, the speed, ease, andconvenience with which product information that is relevant to customersmay be retrieved from such marketplaces increases in importance tocustomers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

Some embodiments are illustrated by way of example and not limitation inthe figures of the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a publication system in theexample form of a network-based marketplace system.

FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic representation of marketplace and paymentapplications.

FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic representation of the conversion of a socialgroup into a shopping group, in accordance with a disclosed embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a method for forming a shoppinggroup, in accordance with a disclosed embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a flow chart illustrating a method for processing a shoppinggroup purchase, in accordance with a disclosed embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a flow chart illustrating a method for managing a shoppinggroup purchase by an authorized purchaser, according to an embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram of a machine in the example form of a computersystem within which a set of instructions for causing the machine toperform any one or more of the methodologies discussed herein, may beexecuted.

FIG. 8 is a diagrammatic view of a data structure according, to anexample embodiment of a network-based marketplace.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerousspecific details are set forth in order to provide a thoroughunderstanding of some example embodiments. It will be evident, however,to one skilled in the art that the present embodiments may be practicedwithout these specific details. Examples merely typify possiblevariations. Unless explicitly stated otherwise, components and functionsare optional and may vary in sequence or be combined or subdivided.

Users of networked publication and ecommerce systems often experiencedifficulty in finding items of interest. Further, some users may finditems of interest but may not be authorized to buy them for variousreasons. The present inventors have realized, among other things, thatthe social groupings of users who are authorized to buy items and userswho are not authorized to buy items can be used to facilitate creationand use of shopping groupings of users in such networked systems.

The system, method, and computer program product disclosed herein thusmay provide improved personalized shopping coordination for shoppers whoare not authorized to make purchases on networked publishing andecommerce sites. Accordingly, one or more of the methodologies discussedherein may obviate a need for calling a separate application by theseusers and those who are actually authorized to make purchases, which mayhave the technical effect of reducing computing resources used by one ormore devices within the system. Examples of such computing resourcesinclude, without limitation, processor cycles, network traffic, memoryusage, storage space, and power consumption.

In one example, a method for personalized shopping coordination mayinclude defining a shopping group comprising at least two users of anetwork marketplace system who are members of a social group, wherein afirst user is authorized to make payments and a second user is notauthorized to make payments; selecting, by the second user, an item topurchase; sending, by the second user, a personalized video message tothe first user requesting payment authorization for the item; andproviding, by the first user, a payment authorization decision for theitem.

In a further example, a computer-readable hardware medium may storeprogram instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, mayperform operations for personalized shopping coordination. Theoperations may include defining a shopping group comprising at least twousers of a network marketplace system who are members of a social group,wherein a first user is authorized to make payments and a second user isnot authorized to make payments; selecting, by the second user, an itemto purchase; sending, by the second user, a personalized video messageto the first user requesting payment authorization for the item; andproviding, by the first user, a payment authorization decision for theitem.

In another example, a system for personalized shopping coordination mayinclude means for defining a shopping group comprising at least twousers of a network marketplace system who are members of a social group,wherein a first user is authorized to make payments and a second user isnot authorized to make payments; means for selecting, by the seconduser, an item to purchase; means for sending, by the second user, apersonalized video message to the first user requesting paymentauthorization for the item; and means for providing, by the first user,a payment authorization decision for the item.

Architecture

One example of a distributed network implementing a publication systemis illustrated in the network diagram of FIG. 1, which depicts a system10 using a client-server type architecture. A commerce platform, in theexample form of a network-based marketplace platform 12, providesserver-side functionality, via a network 14 (e.g., the Internet) to oneor more clients. As illustrated, the platform 12 interacts with a webclient 16 executing on a client machine 20 and a programmatic client 18executing on a client machine 22. In one embodiment, web client 16 is aweb browser, but it may employ other types of web services.

Turning specifically to the exemplary network-based marketplace platform12, an Application Program Interface (API) server 24 and a web server 26are coupled to, and provide programmatic and web interfaces respectivelyto, one or more application servers 28. The application servers 28 mayhost one or more marketplace applications 30 and payment applications32. The application servers 28 are, in turn, shown to be coupled to oneor more databases servers 34 that may facilitate access to a number ofdatabases, including an item listing database 35, an image database 36,and an index database 37. The item listing database 35 may store dataindicative of item listings for items which are offered for sale orauction on the platform 12.

Each item listing may include, inter alia, a text description of therelevant item and metadata categorizing the item. The image database 36may include images associated with respective item listings in the itemlisting database 35. The images in the image database 36 may be standardformat image files such as Joint Photographic Expert Group (JPEG) files.The index database 37 may contain index data relating to images in theimage database to permit image-based searching of the image database 36.

The marketplace applications 30 may provide a number of marketplacefunctions and services to users that access the marketplace platform 12.The payment applications 32 likewise may provide a number of paymentservices and functions to users. The payment applications 32 may allowusers to quantify, and accumulate, value (e.g., in a commercialcurrency, such as the U.S. dollar, or a proprietary currency, such as“points”) in accounts, and then to later redeem the accumulated valuefor products (e.g., goods or services) that are made available via themarketplace applications 30. While the marketplace and paymentapplications 30 and 32 are shown in FIG. 1 to both form part of thenetwork-based marketplace platform 12, it will be appreciated that, inalternative embodiments, the payment applications 32 may form part of apayment service that is separate and distinct from the marketplaceplatform 12.

Further, while the system 10 shown in FIG. 1 employs a client-serverarchitecture, the present disclosure is, of course, not limited to suchan architecture, and could equally well find application in adistributed, or peer-to-peer, architecture system. The variousmarketplace and payment applications 30 and 32 could also be implementedas standalone software programs, which do not necessarily havenetworking capabilities. Additionally, while example embodiments aredescribed with respect to the marketplace platform 12, alternativeembodiments may be contemplate use on a publication platform or othernon-commerce platforms.

The web client 16, it will be appreciated, may access the variousmarketplace and payment applications 30 and 32 via the web interfacesupported by the web server 26. Similarly, the programmatic client 18may access the various services and functions provided by themarketplace and payment applications 30 and 32 via the programmaticinterface provided by the API server 24. The programmatic client 18 may,for example, be a seller application (e.g., the TurboLister applicationdeveloped by eBay Inc., of San Jose, Calif.) to enable sellers to authorand manage listings on the marketplace platform 12 in an off-linemanner, and to perform batch-mode communications between theprogrammatic client 18 and the network-based marketplace platform 12.

FIG. 1 also illustrates a third party application 38, executing on athird party server machine 40, as having programmatic access to thenetwork-based marketplace via the programmatic interface provided by theAPI server 24. For example, the third party application 38 may,utilizing information retrieved from the network-based marketplaceplatform 12, support one or more features or functions on a websitehosted by the third party. The third party website may, for example,provide one or more promotional, marketplace or payment functions thatare supported by the relevant applications of the network-basedmarketplace platform 12.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating multiple marketplace and paymentapplications 30 and 32 that may be provided as part of the network-basedmarketplace platform 12. The marketplace platform 12 may provide anumber of listing and price-setting mechanisms whereby a seller may listgoods or services for sale, a buyer can express interest in or indicatea desire to purchase such goods or services, and a price can be set fora transaction pertaining to the goods or services. To this end, themarketplace applications 30 are shown to include at least onepublication application 40 and one or more auction applications 44 whichsupport auction-format listing and price setting mechanisms (e.g.,English, Dutch, Vickrey, Chinese, Double, Reverse auctions etc.). Thevarious auction applications 44 may also provide a number of features insupport of such auction-format listings, such as a reserve price featurewhereby a seller may specify a reserve price in connection with alisting and a proxy bidding feature whereby a bidder may invokeautomated proxy bidding.

A number of fixed-price applications 46 may support fixed-price listingformats (e.g., the traditional classified advertisement-type listing ora catalogue listing) and buyout-type listings. Specifically, buyout-typelistings (e.g., including the Buy-It-Now (BIN) technology developed byeBay Inc., of San Jose, Calif.) may be offered in conjunction with anauction-format listing, and allow a buyer to purchase goods or services,which are also being offered for sale via an auction, for a fixed-pricethat is typically higher than the starting price of the auction.

Store applications 48 allow sellers to group their listings within a“virtual” store, which may be branded and otherwise personalized by andfor the sellers. Such a virtual store may also offer promotions,incentives, and features that are specific and personalized to arelevant seller.

Reputation applications 50 allow parties that transact utilizing thenetwork-based marketplace platform 12 to establish, build, and maintainreputations, which may be made available and published to potentialtrading partners. Consider that where, for example, the network-basedmarketplace platform 12 supports person-to-person trading, users mayhave no history or other reference information whereby thetrustworthiness and credibility of potential trading partners may beassessed. The reputation application 50 allows a user (for example,through feedback provided by other transaction partners) to establish areputation within the network-based marketplace platform 12 over time.Other potential trading partners may then reference such a reputationfor the purposes of assessing credibility and trustworthiness.

Personalization applications 52 allow users of the marketplace platform12 to personalize various aspects of their interactions with themarketplace platform 12. For example a user may, utilizing anappropriate personalization application 52, create a personalizedreference page at which information regarding transactions to which theuser is (or has been) a party may be viewed. Further, a personalizationapplication 52 may enable a user to personalize listings and otheraspects of their interactions with the marketplace and other parties.

In one embodiment, the network-based marketplace platform 12 may supporta number of marketplaces that are customized, for example, for specificgeographic regions. A version of the marketplace may be customized forthe United Kingdom, whereas another version of the marketplace may becustomized for the United States. Each of these versions may operate asan independent marketplace, or may be customized (or internationalized)presentations of a common underlying marketplace.

Navigation of the network based-marketplace may be facilitated by one ormore navigation applications 56. For example, a keyword searchapplication 57 enables keyword searches of listings published via themarketplace platform 12. Similarly, an image search application 59enables an image-based search of item listings published via themarketplace platform 12. To perform an image-based search, a user maysubmit a query image, whereupon the image search application 59 maycompare the query image to images in the image database to produce aresult list of item listings based on a similarity ranking between thequery image and the images associated with the respective item listings.The similarity ranking may be established by parsing or processing thequery image to provide index data, and thereafter comparing the queryimage's index data to pre-compiled index data for the listing images. Abrowsing application may allow users to browse various category,catalogue, or inventory data structures according to which listings maybe classified within the marketplace platform 12. Various othernavigation applications may be provided to supplement the search andbrowsing applications.

In order to make listings available via the network-based marketplace asvisually informative and attractive as possible, as well as to enableimage-based searching, the marketplace applications 30 may include oneor more imaging applications 58, which users may use to upload imagesfor inclusion within listings. Images thus uploaded are stored in theimage database 36, with each image being associatively linked to atleast one item listing in the item listing database 35. One of theimaging applications 58 may also operate to incorporate images withinviewed listings. The imaging applications 58 may also support one ormore promotional features, such as image galleries that are presented topotential buyers. For example, sellers may pay an additional fee to havean image included within a gallery of images for promoted items.

The marketplace platform 12 may also include an image indexingapplication 61 to parse or process images uploaded via the imagingapplication 58, as well as to parse or process query images submittedvia the image search application 59. Index data is the result ofprocessing images by the image indexing application 61 and is stored inthe index database 37.

Listing creation applications 60 may allow sellers to convenientlyauthor listings pertaining to goods or services that they wish totransact via the marketplace platform 12, and listing managementapplications 62 may allow sellers to manage such listings. Specifically,where a particular seller has authored and/or published a large numberof listings, the management of such listings may present a challenge.The listing management applications 62 may provide a number of features(e.g., auto-relisting, inventory level monitors, etc.) to assist theseller in managing such listings. One or more post-listing managementapplications 64 may also assist sellers with a number of activities thattypically occur post-listing. For example, upon completion of an auctionfacilitated by one or more auction applications 44, a seller may wish toleave feedback regarding a particular buyer. To this end, a post-listingmanagement application 64 may provide an interface to one or morereputation applications 50, so as to allow the seller conveniently toprovide feedback regarding multiple buyers to the reputationapplications 50.

Dispute resolution applications 66 may provide mechanisms wherebydisputes arising between transacting parties may be resolved. Forexample, the dispute resolution applications 66 may provide guidedprocedures whereby the parties are guided through a number of steps inan attempt to settle a dispute. In the event that the dispute cannot besettled via the guided procedures, the dispute may be escalated to athird party mediator or arbitrator.

A number of fraud prevention applications 68 implement various frauddetection and prevention mechanisms to reduce the occurrence of fraudwithin the marketplace. One of the fraud prevention applications 68 mayinclude automatic image comparison, by use of index data produced by theimage indexing application 61 and stored in the index database 37. Suchimage comparison may be used by the fraud prevention application 68automatically to detect listing images similar to the query image, andto alert a fraud assessor to such image listings, so that the humanassessor can examine the identified item listing to determine whetherthe identified item listing is a fraudulent listing.

Messaging applications 70 may enable the generation and delivery ofmessages to users of the network-based marketplace platform 12. Suchmessages may, for example, advise users regarding the status of listingsat the marketplace (e.g., providing “outbid” notices to bidders duringan auction process or providing promotional and merchandisinginformation to users).

Merchandizing applications 72 may support various merchandizingfunctions that are made available to sellers to enable sellers toincrease sales via the marketplace platform 12. The merchandizingapplications 72 also operate the various merchandizing features that maybe invoked by sellers and may monitor and track the success ofmerchandizing strategies employed by sellers.

The present inventors have realized that the marketplace platform 12described above may be improved if users are provided with additionalnew functionality. For example, if a user social group could be used tocreate a user shopping group enabling coordinated communication betweenusers who are authorized to make purchases and those who are not, theimproved operations of the networked publication and marketing systemsof FIGS. 1-2 may prove advantageous to both buyers and sellers. That is,users who are not authorized to make purchases may nonetheless sendpurchase requests to an authorized purchaser within the networkmarketplace, increasing the effective number of buyers significantly.

FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic representation of the conversion of a socialgroup 302 into a shopping group 312, in accordance with a disclosedembodiment. Social group 302 may comprise members 304, 306, 308, and 310who have established relationships among each other, and can choose toshare selected information with each other. The social group members maybe family members, friends, colleagues, and/or co-workers for example.Many different social networking applications exist and are familiar tothose of ordinary skill in the art (e.g., Facebook®, Twitter®,LinkedIn®, etc.). The social network may also comprise a socialnetworking portion of a networked marketing, publication, and commercesite.

Each user may choose to make his or her current online status availableto other members of the social group. For example, if member 304 iscurrently online and available to receive and send messages, thatsituation may be communicated to members 306, 308, and 310 insubstantially real time. The current online status of any given membermay not only help other members decide how to best communicate in asocial context, but also in a coordinated shopping context.

Shopping group 312 may be formed by one of the members of the socialgroup 312, such as member 304. Member 304 may be authorized to makepurchases at a shopping site, as denoted by the double-outline marking.Member 304 may be referred to as an authorized purchaser, and may chooseto add other members to the shopping group 312. In this example, members306 and 308 from the social group 302 have been added to the shoppinggroup 312, while member 310 has not. In one embodiment, each shoppinggroup 312 may have only one authorized purchaser member, though thepresent invention is not limited in that respect.

In one example, a parent may authorize purchases for children, or onespouse may authorize purchases for the other. In another example, anadult child may authorize purchases for a parent. In another example, amanager may authorize purchases for a group of workers. In general, theauthorized purchaser may approve purchases and perform purchasetransactions for a group of non-authorized shopping group members in acoordinated and seamless manner. The authorized purchaser may alsodisapprove purchase requests, and/or participate in coordinatedmessaging with other shopping group members to discuss the requests.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a method 400 for forming a shoppinggroup, in accordance with a disclosed embodiment. At 402, as previouslydescribed, a social group like 302 is formed. Members of the socialgroup 302 may share their current and/or future online status with eachother. In one example, members may share their social calendars witheach other, to determine present and future times at which a particularmember will be online and able to participate in live messaging.

At 404, one member of the social group 302, such as member 304, maybecome an authorized purchaser in a network marketplace. The authorizedpurchaser may for example provide payment information to themarketplace, and the marketplace may send a confirmation messagerequiring a response from the authorized purchaser to establish anaccount with purchasing capabilities in the network marketplace. Otherpersons may shop in the network marketplace, but may not be authorizedpurchasers.

At 406, the authorized purchaser may add at least one other member ofthe social group 302 as a non-authorized purchaser in the networkmarketplace and in the shopping group 312. Each member of the shoppinggroup 312 may in one example shop in the network marketplace,communicate within the network marketplace to other shopping group 312members, and place desired items into an online shopping cart. However,non-authorized purchasers may not perform purchases by themselves.

As with the social group 302, members of the shopping group 312 maycomprise family members, friends, colleagues, and co-workers forexample. One family member may be an authorized purchaser for a familyfor example, such as a parent or guardian, while other family membersmay be non-authorized purchasers, such as children or a spouse.Similarly, the authorized purchaser may be a manager, contractor, ordepartment head who coordinates purchases for a number of non-authorizedpurchaser workers, subcontractors, or employees for example.

At 408, one of the non-authorized purchasers may request approval fromthe authorized purchaser to buy an item in the network marketplace.Rather than contacting the authorized purchaser through other means, inone example the requester may contact the authorized purchaser throughthe network marketplace. In this manner, the need to start and run aseparate application is avoided.

The approval request may take a number of forms, from a simple textmessage, an audio message, or a video message for example. Whatever theform, the approval request may be personalized by the requester, whotypically knows the authorized purchaser. The requester may thus tailorthe approval request to most effectively coordinate with the authorizedpurchaser. For example, a child may explain to a parent why a given itemis desirable in terms that are most likely to persuade the parent toapprove the purchase.

Although in this description only one personalized purchase request isdescribed, the present invention is not so limited; many personalizedmessages may be exchanged between the requester and the authorizedpurchaser. The messages may all be exchanged within the networkmarketplace application, so that use of a separate application is notrequired. The network marketplace application may also call separateapplications to facilitate the message exchanges, but the networkmarketplace users need not be aware of this operational feature.

At 410, the network marketplace may determine the current availabilityof the authorized purchaser. If the authorized purchaser is online andthus able to process messages “live”, the communication of the purchaserequest to the authorized purchaser may be handled differently than ifthe authorized purchaser is not currently online. The currentavailability of a member of the shopping group 312 may be determinedwithin the network marketplace by checking if the member is currentlylogged into the network marketplace for example. In another example, thecurrent availability of a member of the shopping group 312 may bedetermined from the shared social calendar of that member.

At 412, the network marketplace may select a delivery mode for thepurchase approval request according to the authorized purchaser'scurrent availability. The delivery mode may be tailored to best takeadvantage of the availability status, so that a purchase approvaldecision may be made as efficiently as possible. Efficiency of suchcoordinated shopping activities benefits both buyers and sellers. Buyersmay have their purchases approved quickly without needing to becomeauthorized purchasers themselves. Sellers may experience sales increasesbecause buyers other than authorized purchasers are now able to beinvolved in the shopping process, via coordinating with the authorizedpurchaser.

There may be many situations in which non-authorized purchasers wouldbenefit from participating in such a shopping group on the networkmarketplace. For example, children may not have the financialresponsibility or legal capacity to have access to the payment methodsrequired become authorized purchasers, but they nonetheless may enjoyshopping. Children usually depend on their parents to perform a paymenttransaction, either from their own accounts or from the parent's (orparents') account on the network marketplace. Similarly, in corporate,government, or university situations for example, formal budget controlpractices may require review of purchase requests before approval can begranted by an assigned authorized purchaser.

Further, in some cases the non-authorized purchaser may reside in aregion where purchases are difficult, or where access to payment methodsis limited or not available. For example, some items may be restricteddue to cultural considerations, so a non-authorized purchaser may needassistance from an authorized purchaser, who may reside elsewhere orotherwise be free from the restrictions. Also, in auction situations,the auction may end at an inconvenient time for the non-authorizedpurchaser, so an authorized purchaser in another time zone may helpresolve that issue by bidding for the non-authorized purchaser.

In another embodiment, the network marketplace may consider thepredetermined bandwidth limitations faced by the authorized purchaserand responsively modify the communication means for messaging to theauthorized purchaser. For example, a voice-only call or personalizedtext message may be sent rather than a video call or the entirepersonalized video message. Likewise, an SMS (Short Message Service)text message with a link to an item description may be sent to theauthorized purchaser instead of a full web page. Similarly, an itemphoto in an item description may be modified to have a lower resolution,or may be displayed only after the authorized purchaser clicks on it.

FIG. 5 is a flow chart illustrating a method 500 for processing ashopping group purchase, in accordance with a disclosed embodiment. At502, a shopping group may be created as previously described, comprisingfor example Joe and Emily, where Joe is Emily's father. At 504, Joe maybe defined as the authorized purchaser for the shopping group, as Joehas access to requisite payment methods. At 506, Emily may add an itemto an online shopping cart in a network marketplace, and ask Joe forpayment approval via the network marketplace. Emily may click a “GroupBuy” button for example in the network marketplace application userinterface to send the purchase request.

The request for purchase approval may be sent entirely within a networkmarketplace environment, without the need to run additionalapplications. Further, Emily may create a personalized video messagerelated to the purchase approval request. For example, Emily may providea description of why she needs or wants the item, in entirelypersonalized terms that she deems most likely to be persuasive. Thenetwork marketplace may also provide item information, such as acorresponding item number, its price, quantity available, selleridentifier, etc., via a link to an item listing or an appended copy ofthe item listing.

At 508, the network marketplace application engine may determine if Joeis currently available. For example, the network marketplace maydetermine if Joe is currently logged into the network marketplace or arelated messaging application the network marketplace uses. The networkmarketplace may also check Joe's social calendar to determine from thecalendar if Joe is currently available.

At 510, if Joe is not currently available, the network marketplace maysend the personalized video message to Joe via an automated messagingsystem. In another example, network marketplace system may store thepersonalized video message on the network marketplace and may send anote to Joe informing him of the availability of the personalized videomessage on the network marketplace. The note may be sent immediately inone embodiment, or at a future time when Joe's social calendar indicateshe will be available in another example. At 512, Joe may check the noteoffline and play the personalized video message.

At 514, if Joe is currently available, in one embodiment the networkmarketplace may “drop” the personalized video message into Joe's networkmarketplace account so it is immediately available for viewing by Joe.Note that no separate application is required to be started by Joe forJoe to view the personalized video message. Further, if the purchaserequest relates to an auction item, Joe can bid on the item in thenetwork marketplace immediately after viewing the personalized videomessage from Emily if he so chooses.

In another embodiment, the network marketplace may notify Joe of thepersonalized video message by automatically placing a video call to Joeand playing the personalized video message “live”. An automated voicesystem may then ask for Joe's approval in audio form for example. Joemay want additional information from the requestor and so may send therequester a message or may initiate a live phone call to the requesterto discuss the request. Thus, a back and forth exchange of messages tocoordinate a purchase request within the shopping group may be providedwithin the network marketplace.

At 516, after the personalized video message from Emily has been played,the network marketplace may ask Joe to confirm payment of an approvedpurchase via available payment options. For example, Joe may have acredit card or other payment mechanism already established in thenetwork marketplace. The payment method may have been established whenJoe became an authorized purchaser for the shopping group, for example.Joe may provide purchase approval in a variety of ways, includingclicking a “Purchase Approved” button in the network marketplace,sending a text message, or by providing an audio utterance indicatinghis approval verbally.

At 518, Joe may make a payment and may also set shipping information tocomplete the item checkout flow. Note that Joe may not follow theshipping information (destination address, shipping company, etc.) thatEmily may have suggested in the purchase request. Joe may instead choosea different destination address, shipping speed and shipping cost, etc.That is, since Joe is providing purchase approval and payment, he maycontrol the details of the transaction.

FIG. 6 is a flow chart illustrating a method 600 for managing a shoppinggroup purchase by an authorized purchaser, according to an embodiment.At 602, the authorized purchaser may receive the purchasing request asdescribed above. The authorized purchaser may decide to approve therequest, based on the personalized video message and the relationshipwith the requester. At 604, the authorized purchaser may modify therequested item. That is, the authorized purchaser may choose not topurchase the originally requested item because an alternate item ispreferred. The authorized purchaser may for example have found a similaror better item, perhaps at a better price.

At 606, the authorized purchaser may modify the vendor of the requesteditem. The authorized purchaser for example may decide to buy the itemfrom a vendor who offers a better price, or discounts or other benefitsunder an arrangement that already exists with the authorized purchaser.The authorized purchaser may also decide to buy the item from a vendorwho is in a different location than the original vendor who may havebeen associated with the requested item.

At 608, the authorized purchaser may modify other purchase details. Forexample, the authorized purchaser may have coupons or discount codes toapply, or may aggregate the requested purchase with other purchaserequests to make a volume purchase. Similarly, the authorized purchasermay select a vendor because of a past purchase history with theauthorized purchaser, or because of a reputation rating.

At 610, the authorized purchaser may modify the shipping informationrelated to the approved purchase. For example, the destination addressand/or shipping company may not be those originally requested, as notedabove. Further, the authorized purchaser may choose a delivery speed andcost, insurance coverage, and may also specify whether a recipientsignature is required.

At 612, the authorized purchaser may place the modified order. Thenetwork marketplace may inform the shopping group member who requestedthe purchase of the purchase and related information. For example, theitem listing of the purchased item may be provided to the requester viathe network marketplace.

Modules, Components and Logic

Certain embodiments are described herein as including logic or a numberof components, modules, or mechanisms. A component is a tangible unitcapable of performing certain operations and may be configured orarranged in a certain manner. In example embodiments, one or morecomputer systems (e.g., a standalone, client or server computer system)or one or more components of a computer system (e.g., a processor or agroup of processors) may be configured by software (e.g., an applicationor application portion) as a component that operates to perform certainoperations as described herein.

In various embodiments, a component may be implemented mechanically orelectronically. For example, a component may comprise dedicatedcircuitry or logic that is permanently configured (e.g., as aspecial-purpose processor) to perform certain operations. A componentmay also comprise programmable logic or circuitry (e.g., as encompassedwithin a general-purpose processor or other programmable processor) thatis temporarily configured by software to perform certain operations. Itwill be appreciated that the decision to implement a componentmechanically, in dedicated and permanently configured circuitry, or intemporarily configured circuitry (e.g., configured by software) may bedriven by cost and time considerations.

Accordingly, the term “component” should be understood to encompass atangible entity, be that an entity that is physically constructed,permanently configured (e.g., hardwired) or temporarily configured(e.g., programmed) to operate in a certain manner and/or to performcertain operations described herein. Considering embodiments in whichcomponents are temporarily configured (e.g., programmed), each of thecomponents need not be configured or instantiated at any one instance intime. For example, where the components comprise a general-purposeprocessor configured using software, the general-purpose processor maybe configured as respective different components at different times.Software may accordingly configure a processor, for example, toconstitute a particular component at one instance of time and toconstitute a different component at a different instance of time.

Components can provide information to, and receive information from,other components. Accordingly, the described components may be regardedas being communicatively coupled. Where multiple of such componentsexist contemporaneously, communications may be achieved through signaltransmission (e.g., over appropriate circuits and buses) that connectthe components. In embodiments in which multiple components areconfigured or instantiated at different times, communications betweensuch components may be achieved, for example, through the storage andretrieval of information in memory structures to which the multiplecomponents have access. For example, one component may perform anoperation, and store the output of that operation in a memory device towhich it is communicatively coupled. A further component may then, at alater time, access the memory device to retrieve and process the storedoutput. Components may also initiate communications with input or outputdevices, and can operate on a resource (e.g., a collection ofinformation).

The various operations of example methods described herein may beperformed, at least partially, by one or more processors that aretemporarily configured (e.g., by software) or permanently configured toperform the relevant operations. Whether temporarily or permanentlyconfigured, such processors may constitute processor-implemented modulesthat operate to perform one or more operations or functions. The modulesreferred to herein may, in some example embodiments, compriseprocessor-implemented modules.

Similarly, the methods described herein may be at least partiallyprocessor-implemented. For example, at least some of the operations of amethod may be performed by one or more processors orprocessor-implemented modules. The performance of some of the operationsmay be distributed among the one or more processors, not only residingwithin a single machine, but deployed across a number of machines. Insome example embodiments, the processor or processors may be located ina single location (e.g., within a home environment, an officeenvironment or as a server farm), while in other embodiments theprocessors may be distributed across a number of locations.

The one or more processors may also operate to support performance ofthe relevant operations in a “cloud computing” environment or as a“software as a service” (SaaS). For example, at least some of theoperations may be performed by a group of computers (as examples ofmachines including processors), these operations being accessible via anetwork (e.g., the Internet) and via one or more appropriate interfaces(e.g., APIs).

Electronic Apparatus and System

Example embodiments may be implemented in digital electronic circuitry,or in computer hardware, firmware, software, or in combinations thereof.Example embodiments may be implemented using a computer program product,e.g., a computer program tangibly embodied in an information carrier,e.g., in a machine-readable medium for execution by, or to control theoperation of, data processing apparatus, e.g., a programmable processor,a computer, or multiple computers.

A computer program can be written in any form of programming language,including compiled or interpreted languages, and it can be deployed inany form, including as a stand-alone program or as a module, subroutine,or other unit suitable for use in a computing environment. A computerprogram can be deployed to be executed on one computer or on multiplecomputers at one site or distributed across multiple sites andinterconnected by a communication network.

In example embodiments, operations may be performed by one or moreprogrammable processors executing a computer program to performfunctions by operating on input data and generating output. Methodoperations can also be performed by, and apparatus of exampleembodiments may be implemented as, special purpose logic circuitry,e.g., a field programmable gate array (FPGA) or an application-specificintegrated circuit (ASIC).

The computing system can include clients and servers. A client andserver are generally remote from each other and typically interactthrough a communication network. The relationship of client and serverarises by virtue of computer programs running on the respectivecomputers and having a client-server relationship to each other. Inembodiments deploying a programmable computing system, it will beappreciated that that both hardware and software architectures requireconsideration. Specifically, it will be appreciated that the choice ofwhether to implement certain functionality in permanently configuredhardware (e.g., an ASIC), in temporarily configured hardware (e.g., acombination of software and a programmable processor), or a combinationof permanently and temporarily configured hardware may be a designchoice. Below are set out hardware (e.g., machine) and softwarearchitectures that may be deployed, in various example embodiments.

Example Three-Tier Software Architecture

In some embodiments, the described methods may be implemented using oneof a distributed or non-distributed software application designed undera three-tier architecture paradigm. Under this paradigm, various partsof computer code (or software) that instantiate or configure componentsor modules may be categorized as belonging to one or more of these threetiers. Some embodiments may include a first tier as an interface (e.g.,an interface tier). Further, a second tier may be a logic (orapplication) tier that performs application processing of data inputtedthrough the interface level. The logic tier may communicate the resultsof such processing to the interface tier, and/or to a backend, orstorage tier. The processing performed by the logic tier may relate tocertain rules, or processes that govern the software as a whole. Athird, storage tier, may be a persistent storage medium, or anon-persistent storage medium. In some cases, one or more of these tiersmay be collapsed into another, resulting in a two-tier architecture, oreven a one-tier architecture. For example, the interface and logic tiersmay be consolidated, or the logic and storage tiers may be consolidated,as in the case of a software application with an embedded database. Thethree-tier architecture may be implemented using one technology, or, avariety of technologies. The example three-tier architecture, and thetechnologies through which it is implemented, may be realized on one ormore computer systems operating, for example, as a standalone system, ororganized in a server-client, peer-to-peer, distributed or some othersuitable configuration. Further, these three tiers may be distributedbetween more than one computer systems as various components.

Components

Example embodiments may include the above described tiers, and processesor operations about constituting these tiers may be implemented ascomponents. Common to many of these components is the ability togenerate, use, and manipulate data. The components, and thefunctionality associated with each, may form part of standalone, client,server, or peer computer systems. The various components may beimplemented by a computer system on an as-needed basis. These componentsmay include software written in an object-oriented computer languagesuch that a component oriented, or object-oriented programming techniquecan be implemented using a Visual Component Library (VCL), ComponentLibrary for Cross Platform (CLX), Java Beans (JB), Java Enterprise Beans(EJB), Component Object Model (COM), Distributed Component Object Model(DCOM), or other suitable technique.

Software for these components may further enable communicative couplingto other components (e.g., via various APIs), and may be compiled intoone complete server, client, and/or peer software application. Further,these APIs may be able to communicate through various distributedprogramming protocols as distributed computing components.

Distributed Computing Components and Protocols

Some example embodiments may include remote procedure calls being usedto implement one or more of the above described components across adistributed programming environment as distributed computing components.For example, an interface component (e.g., an interface tier) may formpart of a first computer system that is remotely located from a secondcomputer system containing a logic component (e.g., a logic tier). Thesefirst and second computer systems may be configured in a standalone,server-client, peer-to-peer, or some other suitable configuration.Software for the components may be written using the above describedobject-oriented programming techniques, and can be written in the sameprogramming language, or a different programming language. Variousprotocols may be implemented to enable these various components tocommunicate regardless of the programming language used to write thesecomponents. For example, a component written in C++ may be able tocommunicate with another component written in the Java programminglanguage through utilizing a distributed computing protocol such as aCommon Object Request Broker Architecture (CORBA), a Simple ObjectAccess Protocol (SOAP), or some other suitable protocol. Someembodiments may include the use of one or more of these protocols withthe various protocols outlined in the Open Systems Interconnection (OSI)model, or Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP)protocol stack model for defining the protocols used by a network totransmit data.

A System of Transmission Between a Server and Client

Example embodiments may use the Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) modelor Transfer Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) protocol stackmodel for defining the protocols used by a network to transmit data. Inapplying these models, a system of data transmission between a serverand client, or between peer computer systems, may, for example, includefive layers comprising: an application layer, a transport layer, anetwork layer, a data link layer, and a physical layer. In the case ofsoftware, for instantiating or configuring components, having athree-tier architecture, the various tiers (e.g., the interface, logic,and storage tiers) reside on the application layer of the TCP/IPprotocol stack. In an example implementation using the TCP/IP protocolstack model, data from an application residing at the application layeris loaded into the data load field of a TCP segment residing at thetransport layer. This TCP segment also contains port information for arecipient software application residing remotely. This TCP segment isloaded into the data load field of an IP datagram residing at thenetwork layer. Next, this IP datagram is loaded into a frame residing atthe data link layer. This frame is then encoded at the physical layerand the data transmitted over a network such as an internet, Local AreaNetwork (LAN), Wide Area Network (WAN), or some other suitable network.In some cases, internet refers to a network of networks. These networksmay use a variety of protocols for the exchange of data, including theaforementioned TCP/IP, and additionally Asynchronous Transfer Mode(ATM), Systems Network Architecture (SNA), Serial Digital Interface(SDI), or some other suitable protocol. These networks may be organizedwithin a variety of topologies (e.g., a star topology), or structures.

Although an embodiment has been described with reference to specificexample embodiments, it will be evident that various modifications andchanges may be made to these embodiments without departing from thebroader spirit and scope of the embodiment. Accordingly, thespecification and drawings are to be regarded in an illustrative ratherthan a restrictive sense. The accompanying drawings that form a parthereof, show by way of illustration, and not of limitation, specificembodiments in which the subject matter may be practiced. Theembodiments illustrated are described in sufficient detail to enablethose skilled in the art to practice the teachings disclosed herein.Other embodiments may be utilized and derived therefrom, such thatstructural and logical substitutions and changes may be made withoutdeparting from the scope of this disclosure. This Detailed Description,therefore, is not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope ofvarious embodiments is defined only by the appended claims, along withthe full range of equivalents to which such claims are entitled.

FIG. 7 shows a diagrammatic representation of a machine in the exampleform of a computer system 700 within which a set of instructions, forcausing the machine to perform any one or more of the methodologiesdiscussed herein, may be executed. In alternative embodiments, themachine operates as a standalone device or may be connected (e.g.,networked) to other machines. In a networked deployment, the machine mayoperate in the capacity of a server or a client machine in aserver-client network environment, or as a peer machine in apeer-to-peer (or distributed) network environment. The machine may be aserver computer, a client computer, a personal computer (PC), a tabletPC, a set-top box (STB), a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA), a cellulartelephone, a web appliance, a network router, switch or bridge, or anymachine capable of executing a set of instructions (sequential orotherwise) that specify actions to be taken by that machine. Further,while only a single machine is illustrated, the term “machine” shallalso be taken to include any collection of machines that individually orjointly execute a set (or multiple sets) of instructions to perform anyone or more of the methodologies discussed herein.

The example computer system 700 includes a processor 702 (e.g., CPU, agraphics processing unit (GPU), or both), a main memory 704, and astatic memory 706, which communicate with each other via a bus 708. Thecomputer system 700 may further include a video display unit 710 (e.g.,a liquid crystal display (LCD) or a cathode ray tube (CRT)). Thecomputer system 700 also includes an alphanumeric input device 712(e.g., a keyboard), a cursor control device 714 (e.g., a mouse), a diskdrive unit 716, a signal generation device 718 (e.g., a speaker), and anetwork interface device 720.

The disk drive unit 716 includes a machine-readable medium 722 on whichis stored one or more sets of instructions (e.g., software 724)embodying any one or more of the methodologies or functions describedherein. The software 724 may also reside, completely or at leastpartially, within the static memory 706, the main memory 704, and/orwithin the processor 702 during execution thereof by the computer system700, the main memory 704 and the processor 702 also constitutingmachine-readable media.

The software 724 may further be transmitted or received over a network726 via the network interface device 720.

While the machine-readable medium 722 is shown in an example embodimentto be a single medium, the term “machine-readable medium” should betaken to include a single medium or multiple media (e.g., a centralizedor distributed database, and/or associated caches and servers) thatstore the one or more sets of instructions. The term “machine-readablemedium” shall also be taken to include any medium that is capable ofstoring, encoding or carrying a set of instructions for execution by themachine and that cause the machine to perform any one or more of themethodologies described herein. The term “machine-readable medium” shallaccordingly be taken to include, but not be limited to, solid-statememories, and optical and magnetic media.

Data Structures

FIG. 8 is a high-level entity-relationship diagram of an exampleembodiment, illustrating various tables 800 that may be maintainedwithin the databases 35 to 37, and that are utilized by and support theapplications 30 and 32. A user table 802 contains a record for eachregistered user of the network-based marketplace platform 12, and mayinclude identifier, address, and financial instrument informationpertaining to each such registered user. A user may operate as a seller,a buyer, or both, within the network-based marketplace platform 12. Inone example embodiment, a buyer may be a user that has accumulated value(e.g., commercial or proprietary currency), and is accordingly able toexchange the accumulated value for items that are offered for sale bythe network-based marketplace platform 12. The user table 802 may alsocontain sensor data for a user.

The tables 800 also include an items table 804 in which are maintaineditem records for goods and services that are available to be, or havebeen, transacted via the network-based marketplace platform 12. Eachitem record within the items table 804 may furthermore be linked to oneor more user records within the user table 802, so as to associate aseller and one or more actual or potential buyers with each item record.

The items table 804 may be connected to an image table 820, whichcontains images associated with the respective items or item listings inthe items table 804. The image table 820 is in turn connected to anindex data table 830, which contains index data as described in detailabove.

A transaction table 806 contains a record for each transaction (e.g., apurchase or sale transaction) pertaining to items for which recordsexist within the items table 804. The transaction table 806 may alsocontain recommendations that have been provided to the user based onphysical activity determined from sensor data and on products purchasedby other similar users.

An order table 808 is populated with order records, with each orderrecord being associated with an order. Each order, in turn, maycorrespond to one or more transactions for which records exist withinthe transaction table 806. The order table 808 may also containindications of whether an order was based on a recommendation providedbased on sensor data.

Bid records within a bids table 810 each relate to a bid received at thenetwork-based marketplace platform 12 in connection with anauction-format listing supported by an auction application 32. Afeedback table 812 is utilized by one or more reputation applications50, in one example embodiment, to construct and maintain reputationinformation concerning users. A history table 814 maintains a history oftransactions to which a user has been a party. One or more attributestables 816 record attribute information pertaining to items for whichrecords exist within the items table 804. Considering only a singleexample of such an attribute, the attributes tables 816 may indicate acurrency attribute associated with a particular item, with the currencyattribute identifying the currency of a price for the relevant item asspecified by a seller.

Thus, a method and system to provide coordinated shopping among multipleparticipants in a network-based marketplace have been described.Although the present method and system have been described withreference to specific example embodiments, it will be evident thatvarious modifications and changes may be made to these embodimentswithout departing from the broader spirit and scope of the application.Accordingly, the specification and drawings are to be regarded in anillustrative rather than a restrictive sense.

The Abstract of the Disclosure is provided to comply with 37 C.F.R. §1.72(b), requiring an abstract that will allow the reader to quicklyascertain the nature of the technical disclosure. It is submitted withthe understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit thescope or meaning of the claims. In addition, in the foregoing DetailedDescription, it can be seen that various features are grouped togetherin a single embodiment for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure.This method of disclosure is not to be interpreted as reflecting anintention that the claimed embodiments require more features than areexpressly recited in each claim. Rather, as the following claimsreflect, inventive subject matter lies in less than all features of asingle disclosed embodiment. Thus the following claims are herebyincorporated into the Detailed Description, with each claim standing onits own as a separate embodiment.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for personalized shopping coordination,comprising: defining a shopping group comprising at least two users of anetwork marketplace system who are members of a social group, wherein afirst user is authorized to make payments and a second user is notauthorized to make payments; selecting, by the second user, an item topurchase; sending, by the second user, a personalized video message tothe first user requesting payment authorization for the item; andproviding, by the first user, a payment authorization decision for theitem.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first user adds the seconduser to the shopping group.
 3. The method of claim 1 wherein the firstuser is at least one of a parent, a child, a spouse, a friend, acolleague, a supervisor, and a contractor, and the second user is atleast one of a parent, a child, a spouse, a friend, a colleague, aworker, and a subcontractor.
 4. The method of claim 1 wherein themessage describes the item and related purchase information, and thepayment authorization decision comprises at least one of an approval, adenial, a request for further information, and item checkout detailsincluding a specified vendor and a shipping address.
 5. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the network marketplace system relays the message, andat least one of a notification in the network marketplace system and atext message relays the payment authorization decision.
 6. The method ofclaim 5, wherein the network marketplace system contacts the first userusing a communication mode that is based on a current availabilitystatus of the first user.
 7. The method of claim 6, wherein the currentavailability status of the first user is determined from at least one ofa shared social calendar and a current network marketplace login status.8. The method of claim 6, wherein if the first user is currentlyavailable then the network marketplace system places one of a phone calland a video call to the first user to provide the message and to receivethe payment authorization decision.
 9. The method of claim 1, whereinthe first user provides the payment authorization decision in audioform.
 10. The method of claim 1, wherein the network marketplace systemcontacts the first user and formats transmitted content based on acurrent bandwidth availability of the first user.
 11. A non-transitorycomputer-readable storage medium having embedded therein a set ofinstructions which, when executed by one or more processors of acomputer, causes the computer to execute the following operations forpersonalized shopping coordination: defining a shopping group comprisingat least two users of a network marketplace system who are members of asocial group, wherein a first user is authorized to make payments and asecond user is not authorized to make payments; selecting, by the seconduser, an item to purchase; sending, by the second user, a personalizedvideo message to the first user requesting payment authorization for theitem; and providing, by the first user, a payment authorization decisionfor the item.
 12. The medium of claim 11, wherein the first user addsthe second user to the shopping group.
 13. The medium of claim 11wherein the first user is at least one of a parent, a child, a spouse, afriend, a colleague, a supervisor, and a contractor, and the second useris at least one of a parent, a child, a spouse, a friend, a colleague, aworker, and a subcontractor.
 14. The medium of claim 11 wherein themessage describes the item and related purchase information, and thepayment authorization decision comprises at least one of an approval, adenial, a request for further information, and item checkout detailsincluding a specified vendor and a shipping address.
 15. The medium ofclaim 11, wherein the network marketplace system relays the message, andat least one of a notification in the network marketplace system and atext message relays the payment authorization decision.
 16. The mediumof claim 15, wherein the network marketplace system contacts the firstuser using a communication mode that is based on a current availabilitystatus of the first user.
 17. The medium of claim 16, wherein thecurrent availability status of the first user is determined from atleast one of a shared social calendar and a current network marketplacelogin status.
 18. The medium of claim 16, wherein if the first user iscurrently available then the network marketplace system places one of aphone call and a video call to the first user to provide the message andto receive the payment authorization decision.
 19. The medium of claim11, wherein the first user provides the payment authorization decisionin audio form.
 20. A system for personalized shopping coordination, thesystem comprising: means for defining a shopping group comprising atleast two users of a network marketplace system who are members of asocial group, wherein a first user is authorized to make payments and asecond user is not authorized to make payments; means for selecting, bythe second user, an item to purchase, means for sending, by the seconduser, a personalized video message to the first user requesting paymentauthorization for the item; and means for providing, by the first user,a payment authorization decision for the item.